Where in the World is Nick Murphy

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Back to Cali!

As the summer season of 2013 rolls in I have embarked on a journey back to Cali! This makes 5 seasons in a row now that I have traveled to the blessed arena of whitewater beasts- California. I am very stoked to be back in my second home and making returns to the the amazing whitewater that only exists in this great state. The Sierras have seen a very low snowpack this year and the water will be done sooner than ever. However, the classic High Sierra runs must still go. Short and sweet is the mission and we have been doing a good job of making the best of it.

I am accompanied this year by Jake Greenbaum riding around with me in the van. Jake is super fired up and is in my mind one of the strongest paddlers on the scene. I am very stoked to have him riding with me as our styles mesh well and the collective fire on big rapids lessens ones own anxiety and leads to fun days going big!

We have met up with many great paddlers and friends and have been having a blast on and off the river. One of our first stops of the trip was the infamous Three Rivers, where we always seem to go big on the Gnar and at the Bar! The Kaweah River system is stuffed with smooth granite and steep miles. We had daily sessions on the Hospital Rock section, and a huckfest on East Kaweah as well as the Chuck Kern Slide. After many days of Kaweah goodness we made our way north and grabbed a run on the Siver Fork of the South Fork of the American. I was able to visit this run back in 2010 with Will Pruett and Dustin Marquart but our group was forced to hike off the run due to high water. I was super stoked to get back in there and finish the run as well as firing the beast of the Silverfork- Bruised Balls Falls.

Chris McTaggart gets a nice intro to Cali granite on the Toxaway Slide of East Kaweah

Mike Peacher sends it on Tripple Drop on East Kaweah

Chris doing the same!!!

Myself droppin into Sky Hook on East Kaweah

Myself in the bottom of Skyhook

Myself stylin in Driftwood on East Kaweah

Getn my crack on- Fire to da Sauce

Dylan Thompson rolln into Chuck Kerns drop!

Seedn Dem Roots

Myself on Chuck Kerns

Chucks Slide from Wills POV

Kyle Hull zippn into Chucks

Jake Greenbaum being shot from multiple angles

Jake Greenbaum in the bottom of Chucks

Dylan Thompson says casually- I 'm gonna swim this one boys- and then he did!

Jake Greenbaum firing a sweet rapid in the section below Chucks

Jake Greenbaum fires Buised Balls Falls on the Siverfork

Myself getting to run a beast that I have been wanting for along time- Bruised Balls Falls

Jah Bless the Truth Tour 2013- Stay tuned for an epic update on our Tripple Crown of Fantasy Falls!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Toxaway Blessings

The Toxaway River in the Jocassee watershed in North Carolina is by far the biggest, gnarliest, fastest, and most aesthetic piece of whitewater on the East Coast. The rapids and slides seem to last forever and the whiteout effect is in full swing. I was able to paddle this river back in 2009 and haven't been able to catch it again until this past week. This past trip was blessed with a healthier flow than my 2009 descent and I would dare to say the flow was on the high side of perfect. There was much more energy and inertia in the water and the rapids had there demons. We had an amazing day out there and I know the next time I return to the Toxaway it will be a Blessing!

Myself on the put in slide- this thing goes forever!

The blessed waters.

Robby Gilson on the put in slide

Ben Bernhard starting the day off

John Shannon with the elbows up at the bottom of the slide

You come out of the slide with so much speed that your bow lifts to the sky!

Myself roosting into the first crux of Energizer

Coming out of the first crux

Myself being skipped into the air while haulin A$$

Chris Stafford taking a stab at the beast

Energizer offers you the chance to feel small and not want to flip over

John Shannon on the first crux of Energizer

Amongst Energizer with the O-Face

Haulin A$$

Ben Bernhard firing up the Feeding Trough

Myself about to launch into Land Bridge- just the beginning here

Myself dishing out in the transition after the seal launch

Busting the first crux with style

Burl Sauce for the rest of the ride- Land Bridge is too sick!

Chris Stafford spreads his wings in anticipation of flight on Land Bridge

Out of the gates- Chris Stafford

Chris feelin small in the moment- Land Bridge

John Shannon lookin cool on a log after his reverse run of Land Bridge

Told you he did it reverse. He spun out on the first crux but styled it out switch

The last drop of the day is so good and huge. Wintergreen is about 80 feet tall and straight off the dragons back. I was blessed enough to half miss an eddy and half want to fire the beast blind. So, that is just what happened. I love the feeling of connecting rapid sections, or not slowing down, just rolling in hot over a big horizon line, staying in the flow, this be the Truth!

Chris Stafford going unusually huge on the top of Wintergreen

Chris Stafford skying out the beast that is Wintergreen

Monday, April 1, 2013

Simple Stoke

Super Stoked to be heading west this week for a long road trip of whitewater. Put together this video in excitement for the hucks to be had!

Cheers my friends!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Goodbye New Zealand Hello Everything

New Zealand was a great time packed with good whitewater surrounded by scary rocks. It was great to explore a new place via my kayak and the people were very hospitable. It was a great way to pass the cold months of winter! It is now the first day of spring and I have been creeking in the South East for the last couple weeks. I have been able to get runs on new things as well as familiar classics. The stoke is high and I am rearing to leave in the next couple weeks for spring/summer boating in the west!

I feel stronger and wiser than ever before and have many goals for the oncoming months that will push myself to new limits in my kayaking! As Spring ushers in heavy flow in the creeks and over the waterfalls I am very excited to share in the hucking that will surely go down in all the major Mecca's of kayaking across the country. I hope this will be a safe and glorious season for all!